US 6,386,453 B1Granted

System and method for carrying out information-related transactions

AssigneeMetrologic Instruments, Inc.

InventorsGarrett Russell, David M. Wilz, Sr., Carl Harry Knowles

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A novel transaction method and system, wherein a transaction Java-Applet is embedded within an HTML-encoded document stored in an HTTP server at predetermined URL. When a code symbol (8) encoded with the URL is read using a code symbol reader (7, 7A) interfaced with a Java-enabled Internet terminal, the corresponding HTML document is automatically accessed and displayed at the terminal, and the transaction Java-Applet initiated for execution so that the customer, consumer or client desiring the transaction can simply and conveniently conduct the information-related transaction over the Internet. The transaction-enabling Internet terminal (3) can be in the form of an Internet kiosk installed in a public location, in the manner as conventional ATMs.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An Internet-based system for enabling information-related transactions over the Internet, comprising:

an HTTP information server connected to the Internet, for storing an HTML-encoded document having a location on the Internet specified by a predetermined URL, said HTML-encoded document embodying one or more Applet tags representing one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets which, when executed, enable a user to conduct an information-related transaction over the Internet;
and
a transaction-enabling Internet terminal for requesting said HTML-encoded document and executing said one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets symbolically embedded therein, said transaction-enabling Internet terminal including
a Java-enabled browser program for executing Java-Applets, including said one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets,
a display screen for visually displaying said HTML-encoded documents,
a data entry means for entering data into said Java-enabled browser program, and
a symbol reader, operably connected to said Java-enabled browser program, for scanning a URL-encoded symbol encoded with said predetermined URL, decoding said scanned URL-encoded symbol, producing symbol character data representative of said predetermined URL, and providing said predetermined URL to said Java-enabled browser program for accessing said HTML-encoded document whose location is specified by said predetermined URL,
wherein, when said URL-encoded symbol is scanned by said symbol reader, said scanned URL-encoded symbol is automatically decoded, symbol character data representative of said predetermined URL is automatically produced and provided to said Java-enabled browser program,
whereupon said Java-enabled browser program automatically accesses said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server, displays said HTML-encoded document on said display screen, and executes said one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets so as to thereby enable the user to conduct said information-related transaction over the Internet at said transaction-enabling Internet terminal.

6 more elements

A method of enabling information-related transactions over the Internet, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing in an HTTP information server connected to the Internet, an HTML-encoded document having a location on the Internet specified by a predetermined URL, said HTML-encoded document embodying one or more Applet tags representing one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets which, when executed, enable a user to conduct an information-related transaction over the Internet;
(b) providing a transaction-enabling Internet terminal for accessing said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server and executing said one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets, said transaction-enabling Internet terminal including
a Java-enabled browser program for executing Java-Applets, including said one or more transaction-enabling Java-Applets,
a display screen for visually displaying said HTML-encoded documents,
a data entry means for entering data into said Java-enabled browser program, and
a symbol reader, operably connected to said Java-enabled browser program, for scanning a URL-encoded symbol encoded with said predetermined URL, decoding said scanned URL-encoded symbol, producing symbol character data representative of said predetermined URL, and providing said predetermined URL to said Java-enabled browser program for accessing said HTML-encoded document whose location is specified by said predetermined URL;
and
(c) reading said URL-encoded symbol using said symbol reader, whereupon symbol character data representative of said URL-encoded symbol is automatically produced and provided to said Java-enabled browser program, and said Java-enabled browser program automatically accesses said HTML-encoded document from said HTTP information server and displays said HTML-encoded document on said display screen, and executes said transaction-enabling Java-Applet so as to thereby enable the user to conduct said information-related transaction over the Internet at said transaction-enabling Internet terminal.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/308,806Filed 9 Feb 2000 · continuation in part
Priority: 25 Nov 1996
Granted: 14 May 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

G06Q 10/10
Administration; Management: office automation; Time management
G06F 16/9566
Using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]: uRL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
G06Q 30/06
Commerce: buying, selling or leasing transactions
G06Q
Information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial

Family

Application08/753,367Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Nov 1996
Application08/846,219Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 25 Apr 1997
Application08/869,164Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Jun 1997
Application08/887,785Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Jul 1997
Application08/891,599Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 11 Jul 1997
Application08/905,903Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Aug 1997
Application08/916,694Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Aug 1997
US 5,905,248 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,152,369 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,905,251 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,027,024 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,992,752 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,076,733 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,386,453 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.